The Wildcats

Originally hailing from Worcester, the Wildcats began as a trio featuring vocalists Fay Shugrue and Jeff Adams alongside organist Donny Lavin. Each member had already logged years in assorted blues outfits, yet the trio’s distinctive approach and habit of reviving little-known material quickly established them as a compelling stage draw. The group issued its first long-player, Blue in the Face, in 1998 while maintaining a steady circuit of New England dates. Impressed by the playing of veteran bassist Steve Stavropoulos and ex-Robin Steiger Group drummer Bob Tula, the band invited both musicians to join, expanding the lineup. That added depth and drive were documented on the second album, Live at Gilrein's, drawn from a November 2000 show at the Worcester House of Blues and mixing new originals with reinterpretations. The Wildcats have also tackled compositions by Miles Davis, Doc Pomus, and Janis Joplin, among others. In 2001 they inked a deal with Black Rose Records and kept up their roadwork. May 2002 found the group spending a month in the studio to lay down tracks for a third album slated for late summer release; during the same period Fay Shugrue wed Jeff Adams and adopted the surname Fay Adams. The ensemble has shared stages with Savoy Brown and earned favorable notices in the blues press.